Researching the Keys to Successful Citizen Science Projects

I've been working on a new post about the makings of a successful citizen science project.  It looks at  the many projects we've discussed and the attributes that make them publicly popular and scientifically useful.   I've found some common threads and want to highlight them as examples future project scientists can learn from.

During my research I came across an article from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Bonney, Rick, et al)with a unique perspective on the problem.  You can find it in the December 2009 edition of BioScience available here.  It's a few years old but this group's experience operating the Project FeederWatch and Backyard Bird Count programs, as well as developing the useful eBird tool, means they speak from valuable experience.  So I wanted their opinion, and your reactions to it, as I record my own observations.

A few key points include:

• Since most citizen scientists are amateur observers, design data collections that rely on basic skills that require little training.
• Simple, easy-to-explain projects are more popular with users.  Although the questions can be scientifically complex the basic concepts should be understandable by an everyday person.
• Studies with a "large spatial or temporal scope" are best suited to citizen science since they take advantage of the wide number (and type) of users who may participate.
• Standardizing data collection criteria and techniques is vital to data quality when multiple participants are all supplying observations.
• Providing educational opportunities keep users interested, as well as "certifications" for successfully completing any required training (no matter how minimal).
• Make study results AND study data available to the public.  If you ask people to collect data they should be trusted to view and analyze it themselves.
• Disseminating results broadly and publicly helps demonstrate the importance of participation and encourages people to continue volunteering to help your project.

These are just some of the author's thoughts.  But what about yours?  I'd love to hear your opinions and include them in my upcoming piece.  Do you agree with the items points listed above?  Are there important concepts missing?  Are there good examples of each of these in action?  Any insight you can provide will be quite helpful.

Thank you (in advance) for the assistance, and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

FOR MORE ON THIS SERIES:

• Week 1: Researching the Keys to Successful Citizen Science Projects
• Week 2: Benefit the User
• Week 3: Engage the User
• Week 4: Trust the User
• Week 5: Keep it Simple
• Week 6: Case Studies
• Week 7: Connecting it All Together

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